Umeida IIX

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Missiledine's Archives</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Missiledines Archives"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida"><U>Umeida</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida II"><U>Umeida II</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida III"><U>Umeida III</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida IV"><U>Umeida IV</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id199.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida V"><U>Umeida V</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id267.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida VI"><U>Umeida VI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id297.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida VII"><U>Umeida VII</U></A>   |   <B>Umeida IIX</B>   |   <A HREF="id327.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida IX"><U>Umeida IX</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Missiledines Archives"><U><B>Archive Directory</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Umeida IIX</I></div> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 204</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "I wouldn't mind, in fact I'd like some company. I am</div> <div>  just carving some wood and enjoying the peace and safety of</div> <div>  this place. If you have any questions for me, any kind of</div> <div>  questions, feel free to ask."</div> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 205</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> She pours you some cider and lays out various breads, cheeses, fruits and sweets, placing them on a flat, table like stone.</div> <div> "Yes, there are some things we need to talk about and I do have some questions for you."</div> <div> She waits for you to help yourself before taking her own. Only after you are both eating does she begin talking again.</div> <div> "I spoke to Gallin this morning. He told me about meeting you and what you spoke of."  She pauses as though considering. "He tells me that you mentioned your Demonic nature, though you later passed it off as a joke.  Gallin accepted it as such for the sake of his companions, though once you had drawn his attention to it, he could perceive the truth himself.  I cannot stress to you how</div> <div> dangerous such remarks are.  Even here, in this village, populated with only those of the Old Faith, there are those who would cheerfully slit you open for what you are.  Though the Old Faith places no great distinction between the followers of Mitra and those of Blar, in terms of their relative danger to the World, there is no question as to which group the Faithful would rather associate with. The same is true of many Druids themselves, who, because of personal inclination, history or a desire to protect their flock, would not hesitate a heartbeat before rendering you to ash.  There were those in the Grove last night who argued for your destruction. It was only by the narrowest of margins that you left the Grove in your present incarnation.  Since that moment you have been watched carefully and constantly by those seeking an excuse to circumvent the Council's will and destroy you.  It is to your credit that you have done nothing to fuel their actions."  She takes a bite and a sip of cider before continuing.  "I have made, inquiries about you. Discreetly I assure you. Your presence in Velitrium has become known to the Church.  Though they have yet to take serious action towards finding you, probably because they do not yet realise that your status</div> <div> here is permenant. Once they come to that realisation there shall be a Hunt." She picks up the carving of you in Elven form. "I understand that a carving, similar in nature to this, is in the possession of the Inquisitors.  They have read the item's aura and determined its origin to be demonic.  I do not doubt their ability to do so, and you should not underestimate them.  Once they</div> <div> determine to find you, they shall rouse the Sacarium Guard, who are armed with Consecrated Weapons forged especially for the destruction of creatures of your nature. The Knights of Mitra shall spearhead the hunt and Priests shall lead and order it."  She sips her cider some more.  "Because of this you may not remain for long amongst us. A confrontation with the Church is not in our interest, especially, I must be frank, over you. You may have sanctuary amongst us for two more days, then you must depart and not return here again."  She looks thoughtful, "As to what you should do...  First, Gallin tells me that you are seeking money and training.  We can offer you neither. Your best option will be to seek out one of the major cities. Though it may seem as though you are entering the bear's cave, due to the proximity of the Cathederals and the servant's of</div> <div> Mitra, the vast populations are your best camoflauge.  Velitrium City is the largest, but it is also the seat of the Arch Bishop and the Church's might is very great.  But there are other options.  Drunmore is another large city and is the home of the Academy of Sorcery.  Many of the wizards have no great loyalty to the Church, though some do, but even those independent may not</div> <div> hesitate to sell you out or find away to exploit you.  Glenluce is another option. A large city that is a major industrial center and is closely affiliated with the Dwarves.  The Dwarves are a possible refuge for you, though I cannot vouch for it. They have their own faith, independent of Mitra or ours. Their city, buried deep beneath the Valley is a veritable Kingdom unto itself, though they are nominally subjects of the Crown.  If you can earn their trust you may find a place</div> <div> of refuge.  Rannoch is the last of the large human cities. Located in the Frontier it is the smallest of the great cities, though large enough to lose yourself for awhile.  It is, in many ways, wilder and more open then any of the other cities.  The land about it is still untamed and the threat of the Jhensari remains very real. The Jhensari themselves are another possible place of refuge.  Though many of the tribes are still brutal, nomadic, xenophobics, others have become semi</div> <div> civilized through contact with our people. They have settled and assumed some of the trappings of civilization, though they remain fiercely independent of the Crown and very hostile to the Church. </div> <div> We Druids have some influence amongst the Jhensari and their Shamans, who practice a debased form of the Old Faith. A form that might well be amenable to your presence.  The Jhensari also have a great respect for the Eldred. Elves pass regularly through the Jhensari hunting grounds without any hindrance our hassle. The same cannot be said of the Velitar." She adds with a smile.  "There are two other options open to you, to escape the clutches of the Church.  The first you know of, Khun Dhagra.  The Dark Valley lies east and south of here, beyond the mountains. It is the center of the Scarlet Cult and the Goblin tribes and the remains of Mulgrave's Rebellion who are ruled by the Duke in the city of Haven.  Though you seem to have gotten off to a rocky start with the Cult, it</div> <div> seems likely that you could mend the relationship if you wished. They are the closest thing you will find to natural allies in this part of the world.  Your final option lies in the Desert of Nygg, far to the south.  The Desert peoples live their, either as nomadic tribes moving from oasis to oasis as the season demands, or in walled cities that guard and control the largest and most fertile oasis.  Many of these citadels are highly developed and civilized, contrary to the popular</div> <div> perception of people here in Velitrium.  The Desert people hold to a variety of religions, most of which do not have the fanatical commitment to demon slaying that Mitra holds. You may well be able to establish a home there."</div> <div> "One option for making money, though you may find it distasteful, is selling yourself. Or rather, parts of yourself.  Though I am no alchemist, I know that there is a demand for the blood, flesh and 'essence' of demonkind amongst the alchemists of Velitrium. Many of whom are accustomed to dealing secretly for the ingredients they seek." She shrugs apologeticly. "I'm sorry if such a</div> <div> suggestion offends, but you should be aware of it, not only as a financial option, but as a cautionary matter. Even those who are not ideologicaly committed to your destruction, may not hesitate to exploit you. I am sure that Kohl could give you the names of a few alchemists if that should be of interest to you."  She stops talking to eat a bit, watching you with interest.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 205</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Veleda, sighs and nods: "Oh, I understand.. I just never realized that</div> <div>   there would be those among you who still would desire to kill me. I</div> <div>   spoke the truth  when I said that I am not a follower of Blar. So far, I have had to live without any faith at all. And seriously, would any deity ever accept me? - I do not wish to offend any good deity with my attempts at worshipping, and I could never worship an  evil deity."</div> <div>  </div> <div>   "Even if I ever considered the option of trying to live there, Khun</div> <div>   Dagra would never welcome me; I have insulted a cult Talon, cheated a</div> <div>   priest and  caused the deaths of a handful of their soldiers. Not to mention that I</div> <div>   tend to  react very violently towards anyone who tortures or enslaves innocents..</div> <div>   No, if I go to Khun Dagra, it would be to wage war against the evil ones who</div> <div>   dwell  there."</div> <div>  </div> <div>   "Other options you spoke of, I will consider. Your advice is very wise.</div> <div>   I will always remember how kind and friendly you have been."</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Then she looks around the area, and says to no one in particular,</div> <div>   although in clearly audible voice: "As for those who have been</div> <div>   constantly watching  me, the shame is on them, not me."</div> <div>  </div> <div>   After this she continues the lunch, and says to Gheenla: "Any questions</div> <div>   you'd like me to answer, or is there anything else I could do for you?"</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 GM POST 206</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   She smiles, "Do not think too harshly of my colleagues. They have many</div> <div>   and varied reasons for their suspiscions. Your kind's depredations have</div> <div>   harmed our people as well as the Mitraens.   I do not mean to be</div> <div>   disparging of your intention and committment. But you are basicly an</div> <div>   immortal. True, you can be slain in this world, but your existence is</div> <div>   tied to the Other World.  With that in mind my associates feel that this</div> <div>   committment of yours may only be a passing fancy, a way to alleviate the</div> <div>   boredom of immortality, and you will abandon it as soon as it becomes</div> <div>   tiresome."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 PC POST 206</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "I have learned to really care about others, it is not</div> <div>  some passing whim, its a strong feeling and it comes from the</div> <div>  bottom of my heart.. My burden has always been heavy to carry,</div> <div>  but yet I have never abandoned my commitment. Oh, and by the</div> <div>  way, I can tell you that immortality is not necessarily</div> <div>  boring - There are always new things to learn, new places to</div> <div>  go and new people to meet, I guess its just a matter of</div> <div>  lifestyle."</div> <div>  "These associates of yours, they don't really know me, they can</div> <div>  only see a monster, not the person within. They wish to judge</div> <div>  me for things I have not done.. Yet I bear no ill will towards</div> <div>  them. I wish there would be some way I could prove myself to</div> <div>  them, so that the memory of my visit would not be so unsettling,</div> <div>  but I don't know how that would be possible if they don't even</div> <div>  want to talk with me?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 GM POST 207</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> "I am afraid that there may be no way that you can ever prove yourself to the</div> <div> satisfaction of those who fear your kind.  Your very words concerning</div> <div> immortality reflect part of the fear. You say that there are always new things</div> <div> and it is a matter of lifestyle. What if you become bored with your present</div> <div> lifestyle? How many centuries or millenium will it be before your lifestyle</div> <div> changes? How long has it been since your last change? For surely you have had</div> <div> a change. No Demon is greated as you are now. Could that next change occur</div> <div> now? Or tomorrow?  We have no idea how  powerful you truly are, whether you</div> <div> could lay a path of devistation all about you if you so chose. We can't really</div> <div> be certain that you don't have the power to baffle our own powers.  These are</div> <div> the things that worry my associates. And, to be honest, they concern me. But I</div> <div> am willing to try and learn more before I judge you.  Druids are famed for</div> <div> their ability to never forget, that doesn't mean that they all have open</div> <div> minds."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 207</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Veleda: "I am what scholars of the occult would call a 'minor demon',</div> <div>    as of yet I cannot even read or write, much less cast any spells or</div> <div>    baffle your powers - in many ways I am not unlike a child when</div> <div>    compared to most other demons.. I don't think about centuries or</div> <div>    millennias, I am here now, I care about you and your people.. If you</div> <div>    would like to use your spells to learn more about me, I think I could</div> <div>    trust you enough to lower my guard and open my mind for you?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 208</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   She shakes her head, "I have already looked on you in that fashion, I have seen what</div> <div>   my powers will allow. The difficulty is that your nature is alien to our ways.</div> <div>   Though our powers would allow us to destroy you easily enough, it is difficult to</div> <div>   analyze you as we would a human or even an Elf.  Druid magic is very old, old even</div> <div>   before the coming of Blar and Mitra. Before the Legion gathered and your kind began</div> <div>   to be seen in the world. Consequently we lack many of the refinements for dealing</div> <div>   with your kind, unlike the Mitraen Clerics who were literaly created to combat the</div> <div>   Legion. It is our inability to accurately read you that worries my colleagues.</div> <div>   Still, I am content to learn by watching. Your actions and your words will reveal</div> <div>   the truth with time. But enough of that. You must soon decide where you will go when</div> <div>   you leave here. I am sure you have questions about this land, perhaps I can answer</div> <div>   them."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 208</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "I know very little of this land.. I mean that I know what year</div> <div>  it is, I know that the current form of government is a feudal monarchy, but I</div> <div>  dont know much more than that.. How do the local laws in towns or cities affect me</div> <div>  and the equipment I own? .. How should I behave in a more urban setting, what</div> <div>  kind of perceived social status I would have as an elf, based on my wear? .. As</div> <div>  far as the peaceguards are concerned, am I free to travel the roads without any</div> <div>  written documentation?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 209</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> "Feudal?" She seems a bit puzzled at the term but after a moment consideration seems to</div> <div> ignore it and instead concentrates on your other questions.</div> <div> "As for your weapons and armor.  Since the Rebellion there has been a permitting system</div> <div> enforced through out the Kingdom regulating the wearing and carrying of certain types of</div> <div> armor and weapons. The system was imposed in the months immediately after Duke Mulgrave's</div> <div> defeat as a way of reducing the bands of armed men wandering the land. Permits are issued</div> <div> by the Local Lords and are accepted throughout a County and are usually honored throughout</div> <div> a Duchy and beyond.  In recent years the enforcement of the permits have dropped off</div> <div> considerably, it is very much at the discretion of the local Lord, through the Watch and</div> <div> the Rangers whether it is even bothered with, but the law still exists and Lord's will</div> <div> employ it when it helps reduce brigandage.  As an 'Elf' your Lord is Count Theseus in</div> <div> Minfolin. All the Elves in Velitrium are allies and subjects of Theseus. He would be the</div> <div> issuer of any weapon permit you would have.  All citizens of Velitrium have 'Citizenship</div> <div> Papers' another hold over of the Rebellion. They originated as a way of distinguishing</div> <div> those who had been cleared of wrong doing after the Rebellion. They have remained, as much</div> <div> as an aid to tax collecting as anything else. They are issued at birth and have a place</div> <div> for the current year's tax seal to be applied. It is a citizen's proof of residency and</div> <div> thier reciept for paying their taxes. Loss of the papers will, at a minimum, entail paying</div> <div> taxes again."</div> <div> She pauses to eat and think.  "As an 'Elf' you are not really a citizen of Velitrium. The</div> <div> Treaty, as I recall, mandates that elves are guests in Velitrium for an unspecified time</div> <div> period. They are obligated to obey all the laws, pay the taxes and in general behave as</div> <div> good subjects, but it recognizes that there is an inherent "First Loyalty" which Elves owe</div> <div> Theseus and the rulers of the far off Elven Kingdom, the ruling family of which Theseus is</div> <div> a member. The title Count was awarded with control of Minfolin Forest by the Crown. So...</div> <div> you are unlikely to be asked for Citizenship Papers. I do not know if Theseus witholds</div> <div> weapon permits from any of his people. He must issue something, for there are humans who</div> <div> live inside his borders under his rule. They would require such papers when traveling</div> <div> since their appearance is not an instant testimony as it is with an Elf.  Your status as</div> <div> an Elf will be unquestioned by most people. Being as there are less then two hundred full</div> <div> blooded elves in Minfolin, that I have heard of, and there is still some traffic between</div> <div> Theseus' Exiles and the Elven Court, you should be able to continue playing the newly</div> <div> arrived Wanderer for some time. Very few people have actually ever met an Elf personaly.</div> <div> However... There are some humans who do have extensive contact with Theseus' band and with</div> <div> them the small population of Elves will work against you. It would not be strange for such</div> <div> an individual to know almost all of the Elves in Velitrium as at least a 'nodding'</div> <div> acquaintance. They will not be taken in by your act for more then a few minutes."</div> <div> "Your posistion in Velitrium Society will be that of a Freeman, as are all of Theseus'</div> <div> folk. To the great mass you will be regarded with some degree of regard, mostly because of</div> <div> the novelty of a first time meeting and Elves reputation as mages." She chuckles "Except</div> <div> in the Frontier. Many of the rural folk in the Frontier area harbor a grudging resentment</div> <div> to the Elves of Minfolin.  The Treaty granted Minfolin Forest to Theseus partially on the</div> <div> condition that the Elves would curb the depredations of the Jhensari from that area. The</div> <div> Jhensari have a very high, almost superstitious regard, for the Eldred.  Many folk in the</div> <div> Frontier feel that the Elves don't do enough to shut the Jhensari down and by being</div> <div> prickly about Velitar Lords pursuing Jhensari warbands into Minfolin, have given the</div> <div> Jhensari a safe haven to retreat through. Also, Frontier folk are more likely to have met</div> <div> an elf or two, thus rubbing off some of the novelty and reducing their esteem.  As for</div> <div> your appearance..." She shakes her head and sighs. "It is most memorable and attractive,</div> <div> however it may not be of great help in blending into Velitar society.   Your passage down</div> <div> a street, in even the most cosmopoliton of our cities, will be worthy of note by almost</div> <div> all who see you.  Though it strikes me that you are the kind of individual who relishes</div> <div> such attention, it will, in the long run, aid the Inquisitors in their inevitable search."</div> <bR> <div> <Sorry for the long delay in getting back to you, but this is the first time in five days</div> <div> I could even focus enough to read!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 209</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Veleda: "Yes, I think that you are right - I will need to wear</div> <div>     some additional clothing, at least in cities, something with a hood</div> <div>     perhaps.. Of course, such things require currency, as does paying</div> <div>     the taxes if asked."</div> <div>    </div> <div>     "There is a mine nearby. What kind of place is it, is every doorway</div> <div>     protected by a holy mitran symbol? .. Could I find some work</div> <div>     there?"</div> <div>    </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 210</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     "You want to work in a mine?" She asks in surprise. "Doing what?"</div> <div>     "The mine is a copper mine with some silver production. It belongs to</div> <div>     the Count of Neuchatal's fief, through the Duke of Argentium, which</div> <div>     means it is the Crown's.  I have never been inside, but I doubt there</div> <div>     are any Mitraen Holy Symbols present. The workers there are mostly men,</div> <div>     but there is a team of Dwarves and gnomes that oversee the work."  She</div> <div>     makes a little face when she refers to the dwarves.</div> <div>    </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 210</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div>   Veleda: "I know about things underground, including the refining</div> <div>    of metal ore, mining and architecture. If there indeed are no</div> <div>    holy symbols around, then one way or another, I should be able</div> <div>    to earn some funding for my future adventures.."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    "..I take it you don't care much for the dwarves, whats wrong</div> <div>    with them?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>    After the dinner and conversation, Veleda goes around</div> <div>    looking for Kohl.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 211</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   "Such knowledge, regarding mining and the like, would strike many as very</div> <div>   unusual for an elf.  And I doubt that you would find employment in any</div> <div>   capacity other then common laborer.  It is unlikely that a posistion of</div> <div>   responsibility, with correspondingly appropriate pay, would be given to a</div> <div>   total stranger no matter how much she might seem to know.  As for Dwarves..."</div> <div>   She shrugs a little. "It would be difficult to imagine a society that is more</div> <div>   diametricly opposed to many of our most basic principles then the Dwarves.</div> <div>   There isn't a Dwarf born who can look at a mountain without figuring a way to</div> <div>   carve it into gold."</div> <div>   "As for a source of funds...hmmm. Let me check on a few things and I will seek</div> <div>   you out later if I can work it out."</div> <div>   After you finish eating and pack away the remains of the meal, the Druid</div> <div>   gathers the basket and stands. "I will see you later." She heads off towards</div> <div>   the Grove.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 211</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "I also have several other useful talents, and the mine</div> <div>  propably has some side-enterprises as well.. But even so, I'd be</div> <div>  very grateful for any alternative sources of funds you may have</div> <div>  to offer. Thanks for the dinner and company."</div> <bR> <div>  After the dinner, Umeida tries to find Kohl starting her search from</div> <div>  his house and proceeding to the herb garden if Kohl is not at home.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 GM POST 212</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> You will find Kohl working on his herbs at his outside table on the balconey/porch</div> <div> of his house</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 212</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  After knocking on the tree, Umeida moves up the ladder if Kohl is okay</div> <div>  with it.</div> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "Hi. You're just the one I want to talk with, master Kohl.."</div> <bR> <div>  She pulls up a chair and sits facing Kohl.</div> <bR> <div>  as she goes on explaining, she looks sad;</div> <div>  "Druids are afraid that Mitran inquisitors may start looking for</div> <div>  me in the near future, and of course they do not want to risk a</div> <div>  confrontation with the church - this means that my welcome here</div> <div>  is quite limited. Also, I just found out that some of the druids</div> <div>  would prefer to see me dead, that when the druids first voted,</div> <div>  they decided to spare my life only by a very small margin.."</div> <bR> <div>  "But most of all, I think its so tragic that I am supposed to</div> <div>  have all the time in the world, but I only get to spend two</div> <div>  more days here with you.." she meets Kohl's eyes with her</div> <div>  own "..its so tragic, because I love you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 213</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Kohl smiles pleasantly and indicates that you should sit down. His expression is</div> <div> sympathetic as you explain the situation with the Druids, but it changes to one of</div> <div> surprise when you finish your declamation.</div> <div> "Uhmmm," His mouth opens as though to speak, then it closes again. Then he sighs and says, "I have seen this before. It is not uncommon for a patient to fall in love with their healer, especially when members of the opposite sex are involved.  But its not love, not really. It's infatuation and it will soon pass."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 213</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Veleda: "Oh, I don't think so. You have not seen me before, and</div> <div>    you can't just tell me whether or not I love you, it is something</div> <div>    I feel strongly through my very being. This has nothing to do</div> <div>    with you healing me - it has everything to do with what I see</div> <div>    in your eyes, what I feel when I am here with you.."</div> <div>    She blushes a bit and goes on, smiling; "Words don't really</div> <div>    do much justice for what I feel, but if you'd like I could show you?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 214</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   He shakes his head, "No Veleda I don't want you to show me.  You are new to this world and to the freedom you have in it. Despite the form you have taken, you are not an elf and you are not accustomed to emotions and experiences that are inherent to the form you now have.</div> <div> It is clouding your judgement and may well lead to your undoing if you don't get your  feelings and emotions under control. I like you Veleda and I wish you all the best, but I do not love you."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 214</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "I.. I understand, you wish us to be just friends.. Although</div> <div>  this  does not change my feelings towards you in any way, I'll try."</div> <bR> <div>  "Do you think I should stay for the two days I have been given,</div> <div>  or should I leave sooner than that?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 215</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Speaking as a Healer, you should take every opportunity to rest and heal. I would not leave any sooner then I must. Where will you go?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 215</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "I think I will stay and rest untill  I must go, then."</div> <bR> <div>  "Really, I haven't decided my next destination yet -</div> <div>  I have been thinking about the alternatives I have,</div> <div>  though.. I might try to live either amongst the</div> <div>  jhensari or desert nomads, or I might try to get</div> <div>  some training and work in one of Velitriums cities</div> <div>  or towns.. If you were a lone demoness out of</div> <div>  ammunition and down on her luck, where would you</div> <div>  go?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 216</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> "A difficult question. A better question for you is, what do you want to do with your time on this world? What would you like to accomplish? That will, to a large extent, dictate where you go. You spoke of attacking the slavers of Khun Dhagra. That will be very difficult from a desert home."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 216</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     </div> <div>      Veleda: "If I am in a good shape, I can fly over hundred miles</div> <div>      a day - So distance is not really much of a problem. Real</div> <div>      problem is that I lack the resources for an effective slave</div> <div>      rescue mission.. I will need to learn more, and I will need</div> <div>      to get better tools and funding, finding some friends to</div> <div>      adventure with would be nice as well.. I guess this means</div> <div>      wandering around and checking out many places to find the</div> <div>      things I seek.."</div> <div>     </div> <div>      "Oh, Gheenla told me that some alchemists pay well for demon</div> <div>      blood, she said that you might know some reliable and discreet</div> <div>      alchemists who would buy a pint or two?"</div> <div>     </div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>         Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 217</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Kohl thinks about your question for a few moments. "Yes, I know a man</div> <div>     whom I think would be safe and discrete. His name is Jhorn Harven, he is</div> <div>     an Alchemist and a Healer. He lives in a small village called South Bay,</div> <div>     it is on the shore of Lake Adrin, between Velitrium City and Glenluce,</div> <div>     right on the edge of Riccia Wood in County Riccia. Do not sell more than</div> <div>     a pint a month, any more could be dangerous."</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 217</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Veleda: "My merchant experience is mostly limited to buying and</div> <div>    selling weapons and armor, so, how much do you think a pint of</div> <div>    demon blood should cost?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>    "Then there is the problem of safely extracting the pint of</div> <div>    blood from me. My skin is tougher than it looks like, an ordinary</div> <div>    needle propably would not go through without a mallet, whereas</div> <div>    a knife might inflict some actual damage - What would you</div> <div>    recommend?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>    "Also, I'd like to know what kinds of stuff will be made from</div> <div>    my blood, hopefully not poisons?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 218</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   "Hmmm, well I am a Healer, not an Alchemist, so I can't really tell you much</div> <div>   about what formulas require blood or essence of a Demon. I have heard that it</div> <div>   is used in Fire Resistance, but that is the only one I know of. As to value...</div> <div>   That will depend on what the Alchemist plans to do, but my guess would be</div> <div>   anywhere from three to five Solars ($300 to $500) per pint. I don't believe</div> <div>   the Alchemist uses the actual blood, rather he distills something from it, but</div> <div>   I'm not completely sure of that. As for drawing the blood.... Healers who</div> <div>   specialize in injuries and such, rather then just herbalism, have a variety of</div> <div>   instruments and devices for making small, neat wounds. A lance, which is used</div> <div>   for opening boils and draining infected flesh, will make a small wound</div> <div>   suitable for bleeding.  (GM Note: Deliberate bleeding as practiced in the</div> <div>   Middle Ages is very rare in Velitrium)  I can't say that it won't hurt, and</div> <div>   that it won't be debilitating to some degree. But it shouldn't prove seriously</div> <div>   harmful if the Alchemist, or Healer, knows what he or she is doing. I do know</div> <div>   that Harven is a competent man when it comes to handling injuries and such."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 218</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "Little pain I can take, it won't be a problem. I have</div> <div>  been through worse situations than you would like to know."</div> <bR> <div>  "But in my case the problem is that I propably should not</div> <div>  even mention my true nature to anyone.. I mean, druids are reputed</div> <div>  to be very tolerant and yet significant fraction of them would</div> <div>  prefer to send me to hell even though I haven't actually done or</div> <div>  said anything to deserve such treatment - are you sure that I</div> <div>  could trust Jhorn Harven with my life?"</div> <bR> <div>  She puts her left arm in front of Kohl, and asks;</div> <div>  "Is there no way I could safely extract the blood myself? ..</div> <div>  I do have sharp little fangs I could bite myself with,</div> <div>  but I would need to know where to bite on my arm, how much</div> <div>  to bleed off at a time and how to dress up the wound</div> <div>  afterwards so that the bleeding stops?"</div> <bR> <div>  "Also, how long should I expect the blood to stay fresh if I</div> <div>  sealed it into a bottle?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 219</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> "I have known Harven for a good many years. Can I be absolutely certain of him? No, I guess I can't. I do know that as an Alchemist he has dealt with...uhm,</div> <div> questionable sources for his ingredients in the past. He is not a Mitraen, so that</div> <div> particular issue is not there. But even amongst followers of the Old Ways, many have reason to fear and hate your kind and to be honest, you have little to offer but your word that you are in fact different then all the others of your type. And</div> <div> considering the actual and reputed powers and abilities of demonkind. it is hardly surprising that many who do meet you would prefer to strike first."</div> <div> "As for bleeding yourself... Well, I wouldn't try it on me and I do know what I'm</div> <div> doing. Deliberately opening a major blood vessel is a tricky affair and if you screw it up you will soon be back in Hell. How the blood is preserved will probably depend on what the Alchemist plans on doing with it. The most common preservation method is by magic.  If you just bottle your next wound, I wouldn't expect it to last  more then a half day or so before it deteriorates beyond use."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 219</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "Point taken. I guess I will be better off trusting my life</div> <div>  on this alchemist you recommend, rather than on my non-existent</div> <div>  surgeon skills.. Oh, if you have any message or a small item</div> <div>  which needs to be delivered to this alchemist, then perhaps it</div> <div>  would travel faster on my wings than on the ground?"</div> <bR> <div>  "And if there is anything else I could do for you, anything,</div> <div>  you need but to mention it?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 220</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Kohl shakes his head, "No, thank you. I am fine. I don't need anything delivered either. I guess that all I can ask of you, is that you live up to your promise. I would hate to think that I have had a hand in healing and aiding evil. With that in mind I wish you well in your travels."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>         Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 220</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Veleda, looks Kohl into his eyes and says with serious expression:</div> <div>    "Worry not - even though my path seems to be a lonely one and full of</div> <div>    danger, I will always do my best to fight evil, and to help those in</div> <div>    need any way I can."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Then she smiles and adds;</div> <div>    "You know, I could have been yours.. And I guess that in a way</div> <div>    I will always be, so please accept this small token of</div> <div>    friendship, it's a shape I found in a piece of wood." She</div> <div>    gives Kohl the miniature wooden statue which resembles her</div> <div>    elven form. "Oh, and of course, I trust you won't show this</div> <div>    to any Mitran inquisitor or a cleric."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    "I wish you well, Master Kohl, you are a wise healer and my</div> <div>    best friend in this world. I look forward to meeting you again,</div> <div>    are you leaving sooner than I?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>    After the conversation she goes to ask the smith if he would have</div> <div>    some spare lead (or other suitable metal) from which she could</div> <div>    make more ammunition for her prodd - She only has one pellet</div> <div>    left, and thats nowhere near enough if she gets attacked by</div> <div>    bandits or the like.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Rest of her time Umeida spends resting in and around the village,</div> <div>    enjoying of the surrounding nature and peacefulness of the place.</div> <div>    If Kohl is there she occasionally visits him.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>          Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 GM POST 221</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Kohl tells you that he will stay at the Grove for at least another week. He is still harvesting</div> <div>   and preparing herbs so that he is well stocked for the lean winter months.  He will accept your</div> <div>   gift with thanks and promises to keep it a secret. He immediately takes it inside to put it</div> <div>   somewhere safe.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The only metal that the smith has in siufficent quantity to give away without charge is copper.</div> <div>   It is now pure copper, having had only the most basic of refinements done to it, but if you will</div> <div>   work the bellow, he is willing to melt some down and cast them into a mold for you. He will give</div> <div>   you a dozen at no cost. They aren't as satisfactory as lead, not being as heavy, but they are</div> <div>   still better then stones.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   On the morning of the day of departure, Kohl and Gheenla come to see you. They bring a bundle of</div> <div>   scones, a chunk of hard cheese and some dried apples, along with a skin of cider.  There is</div> <div>   perhaps three days worth of food here, if you aren't too greedy.</div> <div>   "This will help you along your way." Gheenla says as she sets it on the table.  "It has been an</div> <div>   interesting experience meeting you and I do wish you well. But for the sake of this Grove and my</div> <div>   charges, I must ask...nay, insist, that your sojurn here remain a secret, lest the authorities</div> <div>   cast these events in a sinister light."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 221</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  At the smiths;</div> <div>  When asked, Umeida is happy to oblige working the bellow, and rewards</div> <div>  the smith with thanks and a smile worth dying for.</div> <bR> <div>  Departure;</div> <div>  Veleda, responds to Gheenla's request: "I feel so much in your debt</div> <div>  for the moments of peace and support you have given me, keeping this</div> <div>  secret untill the end of all times is the very least I can do."</div> <bR> <div>  Umeida gathers her equipment and in but moments she is ready for the</div> <div>  road.</div> <bR> <div>  Veleda turns to Gheenla: "Gheenla, I thank you so much for everything.</div> <div>  If there is anything I can do for you or your people, anytime,</div> <div>  anywhere, you need but to ask and I will."</div> <bR> <div>  Then she turns to Kohl, with beginnings of tears glistening in</div> <div>  her eyes: "Master Kohl, you not only healed my wounds, but you</div> <div>  taught me great many things about healing and life, you</div> <div>  are a real friend.. I.. I will miss you always."</div> <bR> <div>  Almost overcome with emotion, she gives Kohl a warm long hug.</div> <bR> <div>  "I wish you all well." She forces herself to smile and adds,</div> <div>  in elven language: "May the stars shine bright upon your</div> <div>  paths."</div> <bR> <div>  Then she turns away and leaves the village, travelling on foot</div> <div>  towards the nearby mine at a leisurely pace, taking care not to</div> <div>  reopen her yet unhealed wounds.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 222</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The two bid you farewell and as you leave the glade that the village is in, you see the smyth come out</div> <div> and wave goodbye before going back to work.</div> <bR> <div> The two track from the village runs through the forest following a meandering course for several miles</div> <div> before it joins a proper road. The road bed is of flinty stone, the soft spots have been carefully</div> <div> filled and stone bridges cross the frequent streams.  The stone and fill used in all this is clearly</div> <div> not from the immediate area and you can judge it to be mine tailings.  You know, from talking to</div> <div> Gheenla and the smyth, that it is a copper mine with some silver production. Judging by the condition</div> <div> of the road there is a fair amount of traffic, much of it heavy wagons. At the moment the road is</div> <div> empty. The mine lies to the east (Your right) The village of Dundee lies to the west (Your left.)</div> <div> You know that Dundee is much larger then the little hamlet associated with the Grove. Dundee's</div> <div> population, including garrison, is about 700. Much of that is transitory though as the village serves</div> <div> the mine as a supply depot and secure holding area for the ore and bullion.  Dundee is also an</div> <div> important crossroads for north-south and east-west traffic, being the largest and eastern most</div> <div> settlement in County Neuchatal.  The mine itself has a population of about 400, including garrison</div> <div> troops, miners, families and some support services. According to Gheenla the land about the mine is</div> <div> not suitable for any serious agricultuarl use, even the small garden plots of the miner's families</div> <div> must struggle to survive. That is why Dundee remains of such importance to the mine.</div> <bR> <div> The mine lies at the eastern end of this road while some 70 miles west is the town of Cruachan, in</div> <div> County Cruachan, on the shore of Lake Adrin.  From Dundee you can go on to Cruachan, or go north to</div> <div> Neuchatal or south to Auratas.  Which way do you go?</div> <bR> <bR> <div>           Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 PC POST 222</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Umeida decides to go towards the mine. She is interested in</div> <div>     seeing what it is like.</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Although with her wounds still healing she is not fit for</div> <div>     heavy work, Umeida thinks that maybe she could earn some</div> <div>     coins by singing, or maybe someone could use a little</div> <div>     healing.</div> <div>    </div> <div>           Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 GM POST 223</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     The walk is pleasant enough and the roadway is level and easy on the</div> <div>     feet. The underbrush to either side of the road is kept cut back,</div> <div>     presumably to deter brigands, though it is beginning to grow up again at</div> <div>     the end of the summer season.  About a mile into your trip you hear</div> <div>     voices ahead, though the source is beyond your sight, blocked by a curve</div> <div>     in the road.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 PC POST 223</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>    Umeida stops and strings her prodd (just in case). Using her shield</div> <div>    as a mirror, she also makes sure that her hair looks good before moving</div> <div>    towards the voices.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    She walks with no hurry, trying to listen what the voices are saying.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 224</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The voices seem to come from multiple sources and much of the conversation</div> <div>   seems to be cursing and swearing intermingled with labored grunting as </div> <div>   though some one, or some ones, where putting forth considerable physical  </div> <div>   effort. </div> <div>  As  you round the bend you can see two armored men on horseback armed </div> <div>  with powerful cross bows, watching a line of twelve men on foot, hacking away  </div> <div>  at the underbrush, pulling stumps and clearing cut brush from along the  </div> <div>  roadway.</div> <div>   The men working are stripped to the waist and are dirty, sweaty and clearly</div> <div>   hot. You can also see that each man has a manacle locked around one foot   </div> <div>   and is linked to a long length of chain that is common to all twelve.  Beyond the</div> <div>   line of men are two more armored and mounted men, one with a cross bow   </div> <div>   and the other with a lance. The two mounted men closest to you have their  </div> <div>   backs to you and seem to be talking quietly. The ones furthest away are  </div> <div>   watching the workers and chatting. Neither they or the workmen have noticed </div> <div>   you, yet.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 224</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida puts a pellet into her prodd and continues walking along the</div> <div>  road, on the side furthest away from the chain-crew. Clearly, the</div> <div>  prisoners must be some sort of lawbreakers and their guards local law enforcers..</div> <div>  She takes care not to point her prodd at anyone.</div> <bR> <div>  She says politely to the nearest guards, speaking their language</div> <div>  with cute elven accent: "Good morning, gentlemen. I am just passing</div> <div>  through."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 225</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> All conversation and activity stops. All the men, the guards and the chained men,</div> <div> are staring at you in silence.  One guard, who seems a bit older and  carrying a</div> <div> crossbow, says. "Can we help you, Mam?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 225</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida: "By keeping the roadsides clean, you are already helping me and</div> <div>  everyone else who uses the road.. are these men in the chain convicted</div> <div>  criminals, working to pay their debt to the king?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 226</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> "Aye, some be criminals sentenced by the Courts. Others be Khun Raiders captured by the Army and sold into slavery by the Crown. You be from Minfolin?" He asks as he eyes you.</div> <div> All the men are staring at you, those on the labor chain with the aspects of men long deprived of female company, the guards are more restrained in their regards.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 226</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Umeida, blushes a bit at the thought of what the men might want to do to</div> <div>   her, and replies: "Yes, Deianadrialea is my name.. Er, look, I think I'd</div> <div>   better get going, I still have a long way ahead me and I am sure you gentlemen</div> <div>   have got some work to do here.. So, untill we meet again, farewell."</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Carefully she moves past, keeping an eye on the men and keeping a safe</div> <div>   distance between herself and them, even if it means walking off the road for a</div> <div>   while. She does not actually point the prodd at anyone unless someone tries to</div> <div>   come too close.</div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 227</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>  You can hear a murmur of whispers go through the labor chain. One of the men, either the big  muscular blonde or the only slightly smaller black haired man, calls out. "Stop by our camp tonight sweety! We'll show ya some work!"</div> <div>  The chain laughs and even a few of the guards smirk. The speaker frowns, "Stow that sh..." He  bites off the expletive in deference to you. "...or you'll have cold supper tonight!" He  finishes.</div> <div>  The murmurs continue, along with a few lewd gestures and acts, but no one else calls out.</div> <div>  "Sorry about that lot, Mam. They've been in irons too long, not that they were much ta begin with."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 PC POST 227</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Umeida: "Oh, I understand, and I forgive them their rudeness - being</div> <div> like caged animals, they just can't help it - so please don't punish them on my</div> <div> account.."</div> <bR> <div> She walks past the group, keeping a respectful distance. After/if she</div> <div> has gotten past and is something like over twenty yards away, she relaxes,</div> <div> unloads her prodd and continues the journey at a normal pace.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2  GM POST 228</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     You continue on up the road, conscious of their stares until a bend in</div> <div>     the road cuts off the view.  A few seconds later you can hear the men</div> <div>     laughing and talking amongst themselves. The few comments that come</div> <div>     through the general commotion are very ribald and lewd!</div> <div>    </div> <div>     You continue along the road for a bit less than an hour, when you notice</div> <div>     an unusual number of ravens cawing and flapping as the circle and land</div> <div>     some ways off the road to your right.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2  PC POST 228</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Umeida wonders what this might be for a brief moment, then she gets the</div> <div>    understanding that there propably is something dead or near death there.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    She strings her Prodd and proceeds to check out the landing site of the</div> <div>    ravens. Of course this might be an elaborate trap involving a carcass</div> <div>    laid out by some bandits, but yet she doubts that. Someone might be</div> <div>    in need of medical attention..</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2  GM POST 229</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Leaving the road you pass through the hedge of brush and undergrowth that</div> <div>   marks where the road cut back ends, beyond that sunlight area you enter the</div> <div>   shade of the trees.  Ahead, some fifty feet or so, you can see the bright</div> <div>   light of a small glade and you hear the sound of running water.  The Ravens</div> <div>   seem intent on something near the far edge of the glade.</div> <div>   Moving to the edge of the trees, you can see that the glade is about fifty</div> <div>   feet across and is dominated by several mossy boulders surrounding a spring</div> <div>   that is gushing from the rocks and flowing out the southern end of the glade.</div> <div>   As you study the situation, you see a raven fly down into the sparse ferns on</div> <div>   the far side of the rocks. You can see the bird through the fronds... it is</div> <div>   pecking at some pale looking object. It takes you a second to realise that the</div> <div>   object is a hand... attached to an arm that extends out from behind the</div> <div>   boulder.  The hand doesn't move when the bird pecks it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2  PC POST 229</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Drawing her wooden sword, Umeida rushes right towards the birds, scaring</div> <div>  them off the body (hitting them if they do not go away otherwise). She tries</div> <div>  to find out if the victim is still alive, still possible to save.</div> <div>  Considering the possibility of something more dangerous lurking nearby, she also</div> <div>  glances around the surroundings briefly every now and then.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2  GM POST 230</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Laying face down in the muddy ground is a man. He appears to be in his mid twentues</div> <div> (human) with shoulder length dark brown hair and a mustache. He is, or was, quite</div> <div> handsome. He now appears unnaturally pale. His dark brown wool cloak is tattered and</div> <div> rent, stained with blood and mud. He is not moving or breathing. He is dead. Rolling</div> <div> him over, you find his front to be a muddy mess, as though he crawled, or was</div> <div> dragged, through the swampy ground before he died or shortly after death. He is</div> <div> wearing a leather jerkin over a coat of fine mesh mail. His clothing, the quality of</div> <div> the armor, the details of the leather work, all bespeak of wealth.  His kee high</div> <div> boots are of high quality as well, and while the left still has a silver stirrup,</div> <div> the right boot is badly slashed and the stirrup is missing. The tooled leather</div> <div> baldric, to which an ornately worked but empty scabbard is hung, is set with silver</div> <div> studs.  His dagger, which is still in its scabbard, is mounted with silver and a</div> <div> large stone in the pommel. There is a  pouch and a leather bolt case on his belt. On</div> <div> his right hand is a gold ring, encrusted with mud and blood.</div> <bR> <div> It is difficult to say just what killed him. The wounds appear large, and he clearly</div> <div> bled to death from them, but they don't look like sword or axe wounds. In fact they</div> <div> look more like bites, but the jaws that inflicted such injuries would be fearsome</div> <div> indeed!  Looking around you can see where he dragged himself out of the woods,</div> <div> across the glade, probably trying to reach the water. There are no other tracks</div> <div> visible. There is no sign of anything, other then the irate ravens now perched in</div> <div> the higher branches and cawing angrily at you.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2  PC POST 230</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Umeida, speaks to the deceased quietly: "Oh no.. Why did you have to go</div> <div> and die like this? - What a terrible waste.. Did you fight a dragon? .."</div> <bR> <div> Then she gets down to the grim business of burying the dead man. She</div> <div> drags the corpse to softer ground, and starts digging a shallow grave</div> <div> with her shield (couple of feet deep ought to suffice).</div> <bR> <div> Before she buries the corpse, Umeida takes a few items which the now</div> <div> dead man obviously no longer needs. She takes the following;</div> <bR> <div> Fine mesh mail.</div> <div> Dagger (and its scabbard).</div> <div> Pouch.</div> <div> Leather bolt case.</div> <div> Gold ring.</div> <div> Empty sword scabbard.</div> <bR> <div> Also, she goes through the mans pockets, trying to find if he has any</div> <div> papers or other small items on his person which might be of interest. In</div> <div> addition, she finds out what the mans pouch contains.</div> <bR> <div> After she has buried the corpse, Umeida cleans up her new possessions</div> <div> and tries to integrate the new armor and new accessories into her outfit</div> <div> so that she would still look cool. She does not put on the gold ring,</div> <div> though, instead she just puts it into her pocket.</div> <bR> <div> Are any of the items magical? (Umeida has Magery 1 and Second Sight)</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2  GM POST 231</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The pouch contains an assortment of coins, solver and copper, in a</div> <div> variety of denominations and even in 'bits' (Coins cut in half or</div> <div> quarters for small change.)  Not being from Velitrium, and since there</div> <div> are no denominations stamped on them, you can only guess at their</div> <div> relative values based on size and metal types.  As best you can</div> <div> determine, none of the items are magical.</div> <div> The digging is laborious without the proper tools, but the soft earth at</div> <div> least makes it possible.  At last you are finished, much to the</div> <div> annoyance of the ravens who had been looking forward to a fine meal, and</div> <div> you have fixed your attire to your satisfaction.  You are alone still,</div> <div> even the disgruntled ravens have thinned out, leaving only a couple</div> <div> hopefuls still cawing to each other in the upper branches.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>            PBEM Series 2  PC POST 231</div> <div>            PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Umeida leaves a piece of food in a clearly visible place for the</div> <div>    ravens.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Curious as to what might have killed the man, Umeida follows his</div> <div>    trail for a while (at most a mile or so). If she finds nothing</div> <div>    of interest, she gets back to the road and continues towards the</div> <div>    mine..</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>            PBEM Series 2  GM POST 232</div> <div>            PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The dead man's back trail is easily followed, between the crushed crash and</div> <div>   the blood smears it is difficult to miss.</div> <div>   Passing through the screen of ferns just inside the tree line and continuing</div> <div>   on perhaps a hundred feet, you see the field of battle.</div> <div>   In a slight depression in the midst of the great trees, you see the corpse of</div> <div>   the dead man's horse. You are looking at its back, which still has the saddle</div> <div>   on, it is perhaps fifty feet away.  Between you and it, along the bloody trail</div> <div>   about halfway to the horse, is another body, a long, slim, furry creature that</div> <div>   looks like a weasel, except for the fact that from nose to tail it must be</div> <div>   seven feet!  Protruding from it's ribs you see the blood encrusted hilt of the</div> <div>   missing sword. Peering closely you can see that the weasel, if that is what it</div> <div>   is, appears to still be alive. It's blood soaked fur rising and falling in</div> <div>   labored breathing. Even as you note this, a sound from the area of the horse</div> <div>   draws your attention, a second weasel, which was apparantly feeding on the</div> <div>   other side of the horse, raises its blood soaked head, ears up, its bright</div> <div>   eyes focused on you.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2  PC POST 232</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida stands still, and calmly loads her prodd with her last lead</div> <div>  pellet. Bracing her prodd over her shield, she takes good aim at the more active giant  weasel.</div> <div>  Maintaining her aim, she starts to slowly close in on the impaled</div> <div>  weasel, ready to shoot if the beast attacks.</div> <bR> <div>  Talking with the voice of thousand languages at once (should sound quite</div> <div>  unnatural and somewhat frightening), she says: "Stay back or die."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <GM: Voice of a Thousand Languages at once?  It sounds unnatural alright. What is it that you are trying to describe?  You can certainly mix words from various languages into one sentence, which will probably be as incomprehensible to a wild animal as ordinary Velitar.  But if your trying to create an effect that will have results like generating fear, confusion etc then it isn't going to work.></div> <bR> <bR> <div>  If she reaches the impaled giant weasel without an attack from the other</div> <div>  weasel, she stops, slowly puts her prodd down and grabs the swords hilt</div> <div>  and violently twists the blade (with the intent of killing the wounded</div> <div>  weasel).</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2  GM POST 233</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The beast watches intently as you advance. You see it seem to shift side to side as though settling itself in readiness to spring.  It bares its fangs and clicks it's</div> <div> teeth in obvious excitement. The fifty feet between you and it doesn't seem like</div> <div> very much!  At your next step it springs!</div> <div> The creature moves like lightning and if you hadn't been prepared for this you</div> <div> wouldn't have had a chance to get the shot off!  As it is you release as it is in</div> <div> mid spring.  You see it's body shudder from the impact and when it touches down thirty feet from you it visibly stumbles, but it is still coming! The second leap towards you is not as strong or as graceful as the first, but it is still an</div> <div> impressive display of agility, and it will come up well short of you, requiring the</div> <div> beast to make a third pounce to hit you.</div> <bR> <div> Because of its injury you will have an opportunity for one fast action before melee.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>               PBEM Series 2  PC POST 233</div> <div>               PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>     </div> <div>      Umeida's prodd falls to hang from its strap, as she draws her wooden</div> <div>      sword. With the step and wait maneuver, Umeida lowers her stance for impact and prepares to block (retreating block) the creatures head/claws with her steel shield preventing its entry into close combat, immediately after which</div> <div>      her sword will strike at it.. During the fight, she will retreat slowly step</div> <div>      at a time, maximizing her defenses while she just keeps on hacking at the</div> <div>      creatures torso with powerful swings.</div> <div>      If she loses her sword or shield, she switches to using her retractable</div> <div>      claws instead.</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>               PBEM Series 2  GM POST 234</div> <div>               PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     The weasel slams into your upraised shield with all its body weight and muscle power.</div> <div>     The impact is staggering and you find yourself stumbling backwards trying to keep your footing in the low forest underbrush. You stab at it even as you retreat from it and such is its intent to kill that it seems to completely ignore your attack, making no effort to avoid the sword which you flesh deep in its neck. Instead it claws at your shield, biting at it, attempting to drag it down.  The creature is practicly hanging on your shield now, with its front claws hooked over the top of the rim, its underbelly is exposed to your blade and you thrust deeply into what must be its vitals!</div> <div>     Such is the beast's beserk nature that it seems unfazed by what must be mortal wounds, instead it's back legs and claws leave the ground and extend under the shield in an attempt to reach you and disembowel you!</div> <div>     You are able to parry its first attempt, lowering your shield to block would let its</div> <div> ravening jaws close on your face! Another stab into the animals abdomen is rewarded with a horrible shriek and a renewed frenzy of attack!  This time one of its back claws rakes your belly, shredding cloth and armor and grazing your flesh but not causing serious injury (Your natural DR is what saved you!)</div> <div>     Judging by the copious amounts of blood fountaining from its neck and abdomen, the beast must be dead or very close to it! Unfortuneately the weasel seems unaware of that fact!  You have now found firm footing, having come to terms, at least for the moment, with the weight of your enemy clinging to your shield. You can either continue stabbing at the vitals, an almost certain success, though of as yet unproven effect, or try to injure the madly flailing legs trying to rake you open, or try something completely different!</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2  PC POST 234</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>    She cannot help but to think that the critter is actually crazier than</div> <div>    most hellrakers she has seen - It sure has taken enough damage to take a dirt</div> <div>    nap very soon..</div> <div>   </div> <div>    She shouts angrily: "Die already! And stop ruining my dress like that!"</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Hoping that the very fast bleeding would incapacitate/kill the creature</div> <div>    soon (seems like it wont be long untill it has no blood left), Umeida</div> <div>    changes entirely to defensive tactics (All Out Defense). She uses her</div> <div>    shield to keep away the creatures jaws, using her sword to parry other</div> <div>    attacks and extensive footwork to otherwise avoid attacks.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    If this does not bring down the creature in ten seconds or so, she</div> <div>    resumes attacking and defense tactics.</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2  GM POST 235</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The beast continues biting and slavering at the shield rim while trying to gut you with its back claws. You are able to fend off most of its attacks, but you do take a nasty scratch down one leg (1 point) before you notice that the weasel seems to be at last running down. It's eyes are taking on a glazed look and its biting is less frequent and its frantic clawing is slowing down....  After a few more moments its grip on the shield loosens and it falls heavily.</div> <div>   Even in death it is dangerous! The impact causes it to gnash its teeth and spasmodicly thrash with its claws before going still.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>  PBEM Series 2  PC POST 235</div> <div>  PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida then moves to finish off the another dying giant weasel with the</div> <div>  sword, being careful not to get in the way of its death throes.</div> <bR> <div>  She views the results of the carnage, and nods to herself, thinking:</div> <div> '..I guess these rodents are not an entirely natural occurrence - they can shred a well armed mortal in just a few blinks of an eye..'</div> <bR> <div>  Then she proceeds to apply some bandaging to the cut on her leg, and</div> <div>  uses some leather cord to patch up her chainmail a bit. She cuts off the heads from the weasels, bleeds the heads dry and takes them with her. Also, she looks if any ravens show up to eat the giant weasel corpses, and looks around for a crossbow - There was a bolt case on the dead warrior.</div> <bR> <div>  After she has investigated the scene (including any saddlebags on the</div> <div>  horse), Umeida cleans up herself (and her gear), gets back to the road and continues on her journey towards the mine.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>  PBEM Series 2  GM POST 236</div> <div>  PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> A final twist of the sword embedded in the downed weasel is enough to still its labored breath with one convulsive twitch.</div> <div> You patch yourself up and lace your armor together before hacking the heads off the dead beasts. </div> <div> Using a couple sticks collected from the underbrush, you impale them and set them to drain.</div> <div> You will find a crossbow, an ornate weapon of red lacquered wood with silver inlay, clearly of excellent quality. It has been discharged and the weasel with the sword in it has the broken stump of a bolt projecting from its neck.</div> <div> The sword is a well crafted broadsword with a blade that tapers from a maximum width of about three fingers at the hilts, to an almost needle sharp point.  The hilts and pommel are inlaid in a style and pattern to match the dagger and the scabbard from the dead man.</div> <div> In the saddle bags you will find some food, approximately four days worth of traveling rations, sausage, cheese, biscuit and dried fruit. A silver and leather flask of excellant brandy, a change of clothing (a dressier tunic and trousers) assorted personals (brush, razor, etc) whetstone, flint and steel, a flute and a sealed metal tube about a foot long and two inches in diameter (30cm and 4.5cm.)  The tube has metal stoppers in each end, there is a lead seal over</div> <div> these with an insignia or arms that you do not recognise impressed into the lead.</div> <div> The horse looks to have been a quality animal, large and well bred. Its harness and kit has silver funishings for the buckles and studs. In addition to the saddle bags, you will find a gallon sized water skin (three quarters full of wine)  a sack with about ten pounds of oats, a bedroll and groundcloth and a rolled up cloak.  The cloak is large, hooded and of a thick dark wool. It is of excellant quality and in very good condition.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>          Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2  PC POST 236</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>        </div> <div>         As the beast heads are getting drained, Umeida goes through the</div> <div>         various items in the saddlebags, cleans the sword carefully and</div> <div>         places it into its scabbard.</div> <div>        </div> <div>         Checking out the sealed metal tube, Umeida thinks that this can</div> <div>         only be a scroll case for a message - Message from someone who</div> <div>         uses the unknown insignia.</div> <div>        </div> <div>         She takes with her just about everything, except the oats.</div> <div>        </div> <div>         If the draining of the heads seems to take longer, Umeida uses</div> <div>         the time to eat a meal and takes gulp or two of the brandy.</div> <div>        </div> <div>         After the heads bleed no more, Umeida ties them together with a</div> <div>         rope and tosses them over her shoulder, saddlebags go over the</div> <div>         other shoulder. She then puts on the hooded cloak and sets out</div> <div>         onto the road, taking back one look to see if the ravens start</div> <div>         to eat the beasts.</div> <div>        </div> <div>        </div> <div>       </div> <div>        </div> <div>          Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2  GM POST 237</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>        </div> <div>         <Are you opening the tube?</div> <div>       </div> <div>      </div> <div>         Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2  PC POST 237</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <div>       </div> <div>        It seems to be sealed by what might be a heraldic noble emblem.</div> <div>       </div> <div>        Umeida is quite curious as what kind of letter might be inside the tube,</div> <div>        but despite her excellent understanding of the spoken words, she</div> <div>        cannot read at all.</div> <div>       </div> <div>        So, she decides to leave the tube closed, since opening it would</div> <div>        not help at all. Perhaps later, when she finds someone who can read.</div> <div>       </div> <div>         The heads will take some time to drain, so you have plenty of time to</div> <div>         eat and make what ever other preperations you wish.  When you finally</div> <div>         set out there are a number of ravens waiting to feed.</div> <div>       </div> <div>        A bit more confidently, with her recently upgraded equipment, Umeida</div> <div>        returns to the road and continues onwards to the mine, quietly singing</div> <div>        songs in random language every now and then.</div> <div>       </div> <div>      </div> <div>         Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2  GM POST 238</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <div>       Your trip is uneventful for some time. You guess that you must be getting</div> <div>       close to the village by now. During a lull in your singing you become aware of</div> <div>       a sound emanating from somewhere ahead of you.... a 'Thunk" there is a      </div> <div>       brief pause followed by another "thunk" and so on....  After a moments  </div> <div>       thought you recognise (or you think you do) the sound of an axe chopping </div> <div>       wood. Whoever, or whatever the source of the noise, it is just down the road </div> <div>       on the otherside of a small stand of pine trees.</div> <div>    </div> <div>     </div> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2  PC POST 238</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>      Umeida leaves the road and proceeds towards the chopping sounds, staying</div> <div>      close to trees (ready to use the trees for cover in case the tree being</div> <div>      chopped falls towards her. She tries to see what kind of person(s) is/are </div> <div>      chopping at the tree.</div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2  GM POST 239</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Peering carefully through the boughs, you can see a beefy looking young man,</div> <div>     vigorously chopping a fallen tree into managable lengths.  Beyond him, but off </div> <div>     the road, is a two wheeled farm cart with a mule hitched to it. The cart is about </div> <div>     half full of cut wood, seemingly the limbs of the tree he is still working on.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2  PC POST 239</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    For a while Umeida just looks at the man admiringly. Then she realizes</div> <div>    that she would do best if she did not disturb the man, who is working with </div> <div>    rather sharp implement (somehow she gets this mental image of the man </div> <div>    accidentally swinging the axe into his leg right when he sees her)..</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Satisfied that she is in no danger of getting crushed by a falling tree,</div> <div>    Umeida gets back to the road and proceeds towards the village.</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2  GM POST 240</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The man does not appear to notice your observation or passage, though the </div> <div>    mule eyes you curiously as you go by....</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The terrain arond the village is rocky and mostly forest, only small plots are </div> <div>   cleared around individual farmsteds. The cut trees were obviously used to build </div> <div>   the cottages and barns. You will catch glimpses of the farms while walking into </div> <div>   the village. They are located at the end of narrow cart tracks leading from the </div> <div>   road. You gather, from their size, that the farms raise enough to support </div> <div>   themselves and contribute to the village, but they are not likely to have any </div> <div>   surplus to sell. Clearly this community lives and dies on the mine.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Immediately ahead of you is a timber bridge crossing a dry gully, there is a </div> <div>   gate on the bridge, but it is standing open at this time.  The gully is quite deep, </div> <div>   perhaps fifteen feet or more and about thirty feet across. The bottom is rocky </div> <div>   and full of painful looking briars.  There is no stream visible, though one might </div> <div>   be hidden in the thicket and you are uncertain whether this is a natural feature </div> <div>   or man made. In either case it seems to be the village's first line of defense, as </div> <div>   far as you can see from here.</div> <div>   On the far side of the bridge you can see that the road bends sharply left and </div> <div>   you can see part of a wall, a mix of log and stone. From here you can't tell if it is </div> <div>   part of a building or fortification, there are several healthy looking pine trees </div> <div>   blocking the view.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   As you approach the bridge you can hear the sound of hoof beats and heavy </div> <div>   wheels on the flinty road bed, the snap of a whip and cries of "Hah! G'up ther </div> <div>   ye bloody buggers!"</div> <div>   From around the bend on the other the lead pair of a team of four appears.  (At </div> <div>   the moment you are not yet visible to the driver, but will be in about a second.)</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2  PC POST 240</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida steps to the side of the road and waits for the wagons to cross</div> <div>  the bridge first, behaving calm and casual. She greets the driver politely (unless</div> <div>  he just races past too fast) and then proceeds over the bridge, following the road.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2  GM POST 241</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The driver, a husky looking man of middling years and long thick beard, nods politely and is clearly trying to divide his attention between the needs of the team and you. From the look on his face, elves are not a common sight walking down the road. Or it may be the two giant weasel heads your carrying. He slows the horses, still staring mostly at you. "Errr, Mam?" He offers, seemingly uncertain as to how to address you.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> l</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>